Chapter 15
Looks like Marcus is doing everything he can to mark his territory with Amy, but I won't let him. Good thing I got there in time. As much as I deny it, she gets to me, and I really want to see how far I can get with her.
Work was slower today, so I decided to come home early. It's hot out—I take a shower and change into something less formal, shorts and a sleeveless shirt. Once I'm dressed, I head down to the kitchen and find everyone already there, except Marcus.
“Good afternoon. Hey, sweetheart, Daddy came to try that fruit you told me about.”
“I'll serve you, sir.”
“Thank you, Mama. Amy, I was thinking—you offered to help me with some cases. When do you go on break from college?”
“I've already wrapped up all my coursework. I'm free now.”
“The office was pretty quiet today, so I thought I'd bring a case home tomorrow for you to help me with. What do you think?”
“I'd love that! I love my major, and I'd be thrilled to learn more.”
I finish eating, get up, and leave the kitchen, heading straight to my office. I need to talk to the lawyer handling my wife's case.
I sit down, grab my phone, and make the call. He answers on the second ring.
“So, what do you have for me?”
“Everything's the same—case is on hold for now, inmate's been separated into another cell. He should stay that way for at least another month. Then they'll schedule another hearing.”
“All right, keep me posted if there's any change in the case, and if they schedule the hearing, let me know. Send me everything by email, please—it's more secure.”
“All right, doctor, I'll do that as soon as I have everything together.”
I hang up and stare at my phone, thinking about what's happened over the past five years.
I take the key from my pocket, open the drawer, and pull out all the papers and Luma's photo, leafing through everything once more.
I've read and reread it all thousands of times, and it's always the same—the only thing that changes is a document here or there that I add, but always about the same thing.
My head is a whirlwind today—information and feelings all jumbled together, leaving me even more confused. I don't think about Luma as much as I used to. Of course I still remember her, the moments we shared, but not as often as before.
But Amy—she's on my mind constantly. I don't know if it's because she's here every day, close to me, taking care of my daughter as if she were her own, or maybe I'm actually accepting the idea that I'm falling for her.
All of those possibilities could be true, but the last one, I confess, scares me.
I've always been careful about getting close to a woman over these years, to avoid getting emotionally involved.
And the only one I've never even touched is the one who attracts me the most, who makes me weak, who makes me lose control when I see another man throwing himself at her.
I remember everything Mattia said, and I have to admit he's right—my daughter needs a mother, and I need a woman.
I look once more at the papers on my desk, then take Luma's photo and slip it into an envelope along with the photos of the accident.
I return everything to the drawer and lock it.
Then I take the key that used to be in my room and put it inside a book I keep in my office—it's actually a lockbox disguised as a book.
I type in the password, it opens, and I leave the key inside.
I close the book and return it to its place.
I stay there a while longer, then leave. I head to the living room but don't see anyone—not in the kitchen either. Where did everyone go? That's when I hear sounds coming from outside, from the garden, and I head that way.
When I get there, I see Amy, Ellie, Mama, and Marcus playing with a hose. My daughter has a huge smile on her face, and that makes me so happy. They're also playing with a ball, and Amélie kicks it so it lands right near me. My little girl comes running toward me, all wet and happy.
“Come play, Daddy, it's so much fun!”
“Daddy doesn't know how to play that, sweetheart.”
“Stop being such a stick in the mud, Owen. Don't tell me you've never played in the hose before.” It's the first time Amélie has called me by my name.
“Actually, I never have, when—” She doesn't let me finish. She comes at me with the hose and soaks me completely, making Ellie laugh even harder.
“Oops, you got wet, but you can just dry off later.”
“Damn it, Amélie, you got me all wet! I just took a shower and put on these clothes.”
“I told you, you're an old stick in the mud. Having a little fun doesn't hurt anyone. You can take another shower, and as for the clothes, they'll dry. Stop complaining and come on.”
Then she throws the ball my way, and yes, I join in the game with them. I've never seen my daughter so happy. She's thrilled with a simple spray from the hose, and it makes me feel fulfilled—knowing I found the right person to take care of her, and maybe of me too.
We stayed out there for hours. Marcus was no longer with us, and Mama had gone inside too, so it was just the three of us playing ball and getting wet, like a happy family. That's what I felt—that we were a family.
I look at Amélie, who's wearing a white blouse, and notice it's gone somewhat transparent from being wet, revealing the outline of her bra.
The urge to touch her is strong, but I don't. We notice that Ellie is already tired from playing—we've been running around the garden nonstop for a while—when she says:
“Li, I'm cold.”
“Come here, my love, auntie already set a towel aside for you. Let's get you in the bath now. I'll get in with her since she's worn out.”
“Yes, that's best. I'll head in too—you can leave the garden stuff to me.”
“Thank you.”
The little devil winks at me and leaves with my daughter in her arms, wrapped in the towel.
She definitely noticed me watching her in that see-through blouse.
What am I going to do with this girl? I try to keep my distance, but she keeps tempting me.
At this rate, I won't be able to resist much longer.